• Providing grants to assist worthwhile projects.
• Encouraging faculty members to submit their manuscripts for publication.
• Publishing and marketing high-quality religious books and periodicals of a scholarly nature.

	Richard Neitzel Holzapfel Title: Publications Director of the RSC and Editor, The Religious Educator Office: 167 HGB Phone: 801-422-2332 Email: Send Message

Dr. Holzapfel attended BYU, Hebrew Union College, and the University of California, Irvine (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.), emphasizing Middle Eastern studies, Jewish history, ancient history, American history, and nineteenth-century American religious history. He married Jeni Broberg in 1978 and is the father of five children. Richard came to BYU as an assistant professor in 1993, teaching in the Church History, Ancient Scripture, and History departments, including the Honors sections of the Doctrine and Covenants and New Testament. He taught at the BYU Jerusalem Center from 1997 through 1998. Dr. Holzapfel currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the "Religious Educator," a publication of the Religious Studies Center at BYU. In addition to teaching and filling various committee assignments at BYU, Richard continues a heavy research, writing, and publication agenda.

Portfolio: The responsibilities of the managing director of the publications office of the RSC include promoting rigorous and faithful scholarship; working with faculty in developing projects that could lead to publications; doing the initial review of manuscripts to determine if they meet RSC criteria and rejecting those that do not; seeing that those which meet the criteria are peer reviewed; recommending peer reviewed pieces to the Administrative Council for acceptance or rejection; writing acceptance and rejection letters; working with printers; making sure that all contracts meet BYU specifications; and finally overseeing the editing, typesetting, design, printing, and distribution of all RSC materials. But mostly what the managing director does is go to meetings so the rest of the team can get things done.

Message from the Director

Universities are about scholarship, but not as an end in itself. Scholarship has value only as it advances the general welfare of society. That means the findings of scholars need to be shared. One of the places where sharing occurs is the classroom. There is, however, a much broader audience that benefits from good scholarship. Through publication, professors can share their findings with this larger audience.

What goes for scholarship in general applies to religious studies as well. The Religious Studies Center is the research arm of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. It was established in 1975 under the direction of Dean Jeffrey R. Holland. Its mission is to encourage, sponsor, and publish serious, faithful, gospel-related materials. To help accomplish this mission, the publications office was created. It encourages Church Educational System faculty to submit their research for publication, and it publishes and markets high quality religious books and periodicals of both an academic and devotional nature.

Since its inception, the center has published groundbreaking works on Latter-day Saint culture and history as well as in-depth studies dealing with scripture and doctrine. Though there is some overlap between the materials produced by BYU Studies and the Foundation of Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), the center ranges much more broadly. The following titles show the breadth of material the RSC publishes.

• Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook, eds., The Words of Joseph Smith
• Don F. Colvin, The Nauvoo Temple: A Story of Faith
• Hugh W. Nibley, Nibley on the Timely and the Timeless

• Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr., The Book of Mormon Symposium Series

• Marlene C. Kettley, Arnold K. Garr, and Craig K. Manscill, Mormon Throughfare: A History of the Church in Illinois, 1830-1839
• Guy L. Dorius, Craig K. Manscill, and Craig James Ostler, eds., Regional Studies in Latter-Day Saint Church History: Ohio and Upper Canada
• Robert C. Freeman, ed., Nineteenth-Century Saints at War
• Frank F. Judd Jr. and Gay Strathearn, eds. Sperry Symposium Classics: The New Testament
• Kent P. Jackson and Frank F. Judd Jr., eds., How the New Testament Came to Be: the 35th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium

The center’s triannual publication, The Religious Educator, has received high praise both for its content and assistance to those teaching in a religious setting. Though its articles range widely, all focus on the gospel, impart a message of faith, and highlight the what or the how of teaching gospel truths.

In sum, the publications office exists to promote a greater understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its importance in the lives of Latter-day Saints.

Joan Pinegar Title: Administrative Assistant Office: 167 HGB Phone: 801-422-6975 Email: Send Message

In her duties for the RSC Joany works closely with the Director, Executive Editor, and 14 great student employees with all RSC publications.  She also assists with travel, budgeting, media relations, special projects, and other office management responsibilities. A graduate from BYU with a degree in Elementary Education, Joany also likes to travel and spend time with her seven beautiful children and two incredibly adorable gandbabies!

R. Devan Jensen Title: Executive Editor Office: 167A HGB Phone: 801-422-9304 Email: Send Message

Devan supervises a talented team of editors who hone their skills working on RSC books, the Religious Educator, and the Religious Education Report. With a BA and MA in English from BYU, Devan earned his spurs at Deseret Book, the Church Curriculum Department, and the Ensign magazine. He and his wife, Patty, have four children and live in Orem, Utah. He is the compiler of Best-Loved Poems of the LDS People and Poems That Lift the Soul: A Treasury of Faith and Inspiration. His current research focuses on Church history in Micronesia and the Bahamas.

Stephanie H. Wilson Title: Production Manager Office: 167B HGB Phone: 801-422-3293 Email: Send Message

Stephanie received her B.S. in Business Management with a Marketing emphasis from Utah Valley State College in 2003.  She is the Production Manager for the RSC.  As such she oversees inventory levels and strategic designing of publications.  She is also involved in promoting new titles and generating awareness for the RSC.  Education is a genuine love for Stephanie, as are reading, vacationing, and her husband, Matt.